Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-09-03
Allan QQ2tGPn2iI|
by ii. RIDER HAGGARD.
AUTHOR OF king soLoMoN's MINES" Isle,
JESS" 1.-THE wrTcH's HEAD" ETC


Meanwhile 1 had been uninK1ng rapluIy,
as one does in emergencies, and had come to
the conclusion that would exchange myself
against Flossie. l scarcely like to mention
the matter for fear it should be misunder-
stood. Pray do not let any one be misled
into thinking that there was anything
heroic about this or any such nonsense. 1t
was merely matter of common sense and
common justice. Ny life was an old and worth
less one, hers was young and valuable. Her
death would pretty well xii; her father and
mother also, while nobody would be much
the worse for mine; indeed, several charitable
institutions would have cause to rejoice there
at. 1t was indirectly through me that the
dear little girl was in her present position
Lastly, a man was better fitted to meet death
in such n peculiarly awful form than q sweet
young girl. Not, however, that / meant to
let these gentry torture me to death-I am
far too much of a coward to allow that,
being naturally timid man; my plan was
to see the girl safely exchanged, and then to
shoot myself, trusting that the Almighty
would take the peculiar circumstances Of tho
case into consideration and pardon the act
All this and more went through my mind in
very few seconds.
"All right. Mackenzie" I said, "you can
tell the man that l will exchange myself
against Flossie, only stipulate that she shall
be safely iii this house before they kill me-"
"Eh?" said Sir Henry and Good, simultane-
ously. THAT you don't"
"No, no." said Mr. Mackenzie, II will have
no mans blood upon my hands. II it please
God that my daughter die this awful death,
his will be done. You are brave mani
(which am not by any means) land noble
man, Quatermain, but you shall not 60"
''If nothing else turns up shall CO." said,
decidedly.
'',rhis is an important matter" said Mac
kenzie, addressing the Lygonani, ''and we
must think it over. You shall have our an
swer at dawn"
'Very well, white man." answered the saw
age, indifferently; "only remember, if thy
answer is late thy little white bud will never
grow into flower, that is all, for shall cut
it with this and he touched the spear. 81
should have thought that thou wouldst play a
trick and attack us at night, but know from
the womai rith the girl that your men are
down at tie coast, and that thou hast but
twenty men here. 1t is not wise, white
Nan,n he added with laugh, 'to keep SO
.tnall garrison for your bona" QSraal).
"Well, good night, and good night to you
also, other white men, whose eyelids shall
soon close once and for all. At dawn thou
wilt bring me word If not, remember it
shall be as have said" Then turning to
Umslopogaas, who had all the while been
standing behind him, and shepherding him,
as it were, ''Open the door for me, fellow,
quick now"
This was too much for the old chiefs
patience. For the last ten minutes his lips
had been, figuratively speaking, positively
watering over the Nasal Lygonani, and this
he could not stand. Placing his long hapd or
the Elmoran's shoulder, he griped him and
gave him such a twist as brought him face tc
face with himself. Then, thrusting bis fierct
ccantenance to within a few inches Of tht
Masai's evil, feather framed features, he said
in low, growing voice;
"Seest thou mei'
SAY, fellow, SEQ thee.n
aAnd seest thou thisl" and he held Inkosi
kaas before his eyes.
sAy, fellow, see the toy; what Of it7'
sThou Nasal dog, thou Boosting windbag
thou capturer OF little girls, with this toy
will hsw thee limb from limb. Wen 70
thee that thou art herald, or even nov
would / strew thy members about the g-sss.
The Nasal shook his great spear ana
laughed long and .1ud as he answered, <
would that thou ssoodst against me man I